Light Gauge Steel Frames for Commercial Buildings: Opportunities and Challenges
Light Gauge Steel Frames (LGSF) are cold-formed steel frames used as the primary construction material in prefabricated steel construction in recent years. Made from thin sheets of steel of uniform thickness without the application of heat, LGSF are extensively used as individual framing members such as purlins girts, light struts, studs, joists, headers, and truss members, roof systems, wall panels, and floor decking, and for entire building construction.
Advantages of Using Light Gauge Steel Frames
LGSF is becoming increasingly popular in prefabricated steel construction due to the numerous advantages it offers.
Strong While Being Lightweight
Light Gauge Steel Frames offer a superior strength-to-weight ratio compared to similar construction materials, minimizing the need for additional reinforcement at the foundation stage. They are also highly durable and last longer years with less maintenance. They can also be moved easily from one place to another due to their lightweight.
High-Quality Material
With uniformly high quality and consistent straightness, LGSF components have better structural alignment and do not warp or split, making them a reliable material for construction. The material is also fire-resistant compared to wood and does not pose the risk of corrosion.
Speed of Construction
Being lightweight, LGSF components can be easily manufactured at the factory under controlled conditions, minimizing errors with design and accuracy of measurement. Assembling these components at the location site is also quick and easy and can be completed even with the help of moderately skilled workers.
Design Flexibility
LGSF frames can span greater distances without load-bearing considerations and are compatible with a wide range of roofing, cladding, and glazing options, offering unmatched design flexibility and better space utilization in construction. Remodeling existing builds using LGSF components is also easy since partition walls can be easily shuffled, detached, or even changed.
Sustainability
With high levels of thermal insulation that helps reduce energy consumption, light gauge steel frames are a more sustainable option than traditional methods of construction. The frames also do not need any chemical treatment against pests or termites, which makes them safe, durable, and environment-friendly.
Opportunities With Light Gauge Steel Framing
FGSF framing is popular in the construction of commercial buildings, residential buildings, industrial markets, and even temporary structures that need to be set up and dismantled quickly. LGSF offers a versatile and innovative construction solution for the robust construction market segmented into skeleton, wall bearing, and long-span builds due to its ability to withstand heavy loads and ensure the stability of building walls.
Challenges in Implementing Light Gauge Steel Framing
There are sound issues that are commonly seen when using LGSF in building construction that can have an impact on the durability, efficiency, and safety of buildings made with these components.
Requires Additional Fireproofing
Steel is incombustible but it is not immune to very high temperatures. The strength of the LGSF components can decrease due to intense heat, making them prone to buckling or collapse. Steel is also an active conductor of heat and can facilitate the spread of fire to other regions or ignite materials that it comes in contact with. In order to make the LGSF components fire-resistant, rock wool insulation, and additional fireproofing measures, like enclosing the frames with gypsum blocks or clay tiles, as well as efficient sprinkler systems are required to be installed at the time of construction.
Poor Sound Insulation
LGSF is light and thin so the walls and structures made of these components do not have adequate soundproofing. Installing additional soundproofing material along with rock wool insulation along with precision engineering during the construction process can effectively compensate for the poor sound installation and block the external noise.
Conclusion: The Outlook for Light Gauge Steel Framing in Commercial Construction
The advantages of light gauge steel framing far outweigh its disadvantages, making it a versatile and reliable material for building construction. The durability of light gauge steel frames and the speed of construction make it ideal for construction projects of different sizes and complexities, especially when combined with lightweight concrete or aerated concrete. Edge Neoteric has introduced an innovative Light Steel Frame Construction that enables quicker, less expensive, and sustainable construction with the very advanced ‘QWIKNEXT’ technology and the high-quality ‘TUFFRAME’ light steel frames. With constant research and innovative methods, Edge Neoteric provides efficient and effective solutions for better construction.